Washoe approves budgets for general fund, fire department

May 21, 2012

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Washoe County commissioners approved budgets for the county’s 2012-13 general fund and new fire department on Monday.

General fund

Commissioner passed a $301 million general fund budget. This includes the elimination of 51 vacant positions as a result of an 8 percent revenue decrease — including a $2.5 million drop in property taxes.

Meanwhile, the county has not inked any contracts with its nine labor groups. Since 2006, the county has reduced staffing from 8.1 per 1,000 population to 5.8 employees today.

“We do understand that being unable to fill vacancies is very hard on employees who have to take up the slack when those positions aren’t filled, and very hard on the public which must endure ongoing service impacts,” County Manager Katy Simon said in a statement.

“We remain hopeful that we can reach conclusions on labor agreements that can free up some, if not all, of those positions to be filled so that employees have more help.”

Simon said no reserve funds were used for next year’s budget and that the county would be transferring $19 million into a trust for long-term retiree health benefits. Those benefits ended for new employees hired after July 1, 2010.

The county’s ending fund balance, the ongoing funds needs to cover expenses throughout the year, will be twice what is required by the state.

Fire department

The Board of Fire commissioners approved a $21.2 million budget for its new fire department, which opens on July 1.

The new department features a three-person minimum fire crew, which the county said saved it $2.5 million. Those firefighters will work in 11 fire stations located around the valley and will be aided by 13 volunteers fire stations.

The budget includes a property tax increase for residents in the Truckee Meadows and Sierra Fire protection districts of 54 cents per $100 of assessed value.

“For more than 20 years, state and local governments in Northern Nevada have tried to consolidate the two fire districts without success,” Fire Chief Charles Moore in a statement. “Now, the Board of Fire Commissioners has set us on a course to consolidate fire service in the unincorporated area of Truckee Meadows to the betterment of our citizens we protect.”